Union is confident rookie pool will grow

Posted by Mike Florio on April 19, 2012, 8:40 PM EDT

Getty Images

Wednesday morning, we reported that the rookie pool could drop for 2012, because the calculations are based on the same factors that initially put the 2012 salary cap at $113 million per team. Wednesday night, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said the exact same thing on NFL32.

But a source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT that, while the initial calculations are indeed expected to be low, the same kind of rabbit/hat maneuverings that pushed the salary cap to $120.6 million will be used to push the rookie pool higher than it was in 2011.

It’s unclear what will be done to get the rookie pool pumped up. But we suggest that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Redskins owner Daniel Snyder keep two hands on their wallets at all times.

I don’t understand how the NFL, by far the most dangerous and damaging sport to it’s participants, has the weakest union. I get the non guaranteed contracts, I get the rookie salary cap, but what I don’t understand are the franchise tags, the restricted free agency…etc….All these restrictions on free agency on careers that are 3-5 years long on average. And the union doesn’t do anything about it.